Top Tips for a Valentine’s Day Dinner at Home

If you prefer not to eat out on Valentine’s Day, with a little effort you can transform your home into a romantic restaurant for the night. Here are our top five tips…

Plan your menu. Choose what you’ll have as a couple, just like you would in a restaurant – albeit a few days in advance. Consider matching lighter dishes with more indulgent ones to make a balanced three-course meal.

Set the table. Clear away all the clutter from home-schooling and start with a clean table. Add a tablecloth, a few candles, some soft lighting, sparklingly clean glasses and cutlery, and you’re all set.

The food of love. You’ll want some good tunes. Nothing too intrusive, but some soft music on the stereo can provide instant atmosphere. Again, plan ahead. Check out our Valentine’s Spotify playlist here.

Don’t forget the wine list! One great thing about eating out at home is you can avoid the serious mark-up on drinks. Line up some good wine that matches your meal choices and, if you’re feeling fancy, the ingredients for a pre or post-dinner cocktail.

Little touches. When it comes to serving, a little goes a long way. Always dish onto warm plates, add sides like vibrant steamed veg, and don’t forget garnishes like chopped fresh herbs and wedges of lemon. To restaurant-up your rice, create a timbale by packing it into a ramakin and upending it onto the plate like you’re building a sandcastle.

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